Martin Winterkorn, the company's chief executive, said earlier that about 250 VW officials, managers and their spouses were to be in the city.

McAllister said the number of aircraft is probably one of the biggest collections she has seen at Chattanooga's airport. She said other big gatherings which produced a lot of airport business were AT&T's annual meeting of stockholders last year and an NCAA championship football game at Finley Stadium between Colgate and Delaware in 2003.

McAllister said she likes the business brought in this week by the VW meeting, adding the planes need to buy fuel.

Mike Landguth, the airport's president, said Lovell Field officials have planned for several years for growth in aviation which they believe is a direct reflection of the region's expanding economy.